Implications of Artificial Intelligence for Colorectal Cancer in Young Populations
Journal of Surgical Oncology, 2025
Joel Grunhut, John J Newland, Rebecca Frances Brown
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In brief
Colorectal cancer in people under 50 is increasing, yet AI research for this group is far less developed than for colorectal cancer overall. We reviewed studies from 2020 to 2024 to map how AI has been applied to young-onset colorectal cancer (yoCRC) and where the gaps are.
Key findings
Only 11 articles from 2020 to 2024 met inclusion criteria for AI in young-onset colorectal cancer (diagnosed before age 50).
Of these, seven were investigations using AI with a specific focus on yoCRC, three were studies mentioning yoCRC applications, and one was a review.
Few plans or implementations exist for using AI in yoCRC prevention, detection or management; future work can adapt general colorectal cancer AI to this population.
Abstract
A considerable amount of recent research has focused on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in colorectal cancer (CRC), aiming to improve outcomes in CRC. However, AI for young onset colorectal cancer (yoCRC)-defined as colorectal cancer in patients less than 50 years old-is not nearly as explored, and its role in the prevention, detection, and management of yoCRC remains largely unknown. To address this gap, we performed an integrative review on AI in yoCRC. We conducted a comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Medline (Ovid), and Embase for articles published from 2020 to 2024, adhering to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. This integrative review involved gathering information from diverse research designs and literature sources. After removing duplicates and applying inclusion criteria, a total of 11 articles were included in the review. Our analysis identified one review discussing the importance of AI in yoCRC, three articles presenting research studies mentioning applications for yoCRC, and seven comprehensive investigations utilizing AI with a specific focus on yoCRC. The findings indicate that while AI in CRC is an evolving research field, there are few plans or implementations reported on how to incorporate AI specifically in yoCRC. Potential limitations of this review include the limited number of databases searched and the scope of search queries used. Nonetheless, this review highlights the need for more targeted research on AI applications in yoCRC. Future research can build upon the foundation of AI in CRC with adjustments to account for the increasing incidence of yoCRC.
How to cite
Grunhut J, Newland JJ, Brown RF. Implications of Artificial Intelligence for Colorectal Cancer in Young Populations. J Surg Oncol. 2025;131(7):1368-1372. doi:10.1002/jso.28036